Hospitality and Tourism

Why QMU?

Our hospitality and tourism courses will not only arm you with vast array of industry knowledge, but they are designed to give you as much exposure to the reality of the industry as possible. As a student, you could expect to: take an active part in discovering the diverse nature of hospitality and tourism; run a commercial restaurant; meet professionals who have shaped the industry in the past and who will help to shape it in the future; manage Scotland’s major student–led annual food festival; discover how some of Scotland’s tourism attractions are managed and help to develop strategies for the future; debate policy with those responsible for tourism in the local area; and plan and manage bespoke tours and other activities around Scotland.

Our courses are truly international: students hail from across the globe and we have links with many different hospitality organisations worldwide. Learning alongside a range of nationalities will enhance your learning and development, and our links will allow you to meet key players in the industry and open up a range of placement opportunities.

Our staff team all have experience of working in the industry and regularly publish in academic journals – so you know what they are talking about is relevant. Furthermore, they have strong connections to organisations such as the Institute of Hospitality, the Tourism Society, Scottish Tourism Forum, the Hospitality Industry Trust and many more. These connections offer opportunities to attend conferences, workshops and even apply for scholarships to spend time abroad in Switzerland, at Disney or at one of many other exciting locations, all connected to your learning!

There are also a range of professional qualifications that you can undertake in tandem with your studies, including the Certificate in Management Consulting Essentials in conjunction with the Chartered Management Institute. Additionally, you will engage with students and staff from The International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at QMU, making the connection between events and hospitality and tourism, tapping into their expertise and learning about policy, strategy and issues, in connection with the provision of hospitality at major events like the Commonwealth Games.

And with our Edinburgh location, you will be right at the heart of one of the most dynamic industries in Scotland, perfectly positioned to immerse yourself in this challenging and rewarding world. Our approach to learning and teaching Our creative and innovative approaches to learning and teaching not only includes traditional lectures and tutorials, but also field visits to a myriad of hospitality and tourism organisations, guest lectures by leading industry practitioners, role plays, real life consultancy opportunities, poster presentations, a work placement and much more. We believe in offering a variety of tools to allow you to demonstrate a wide range of competencies, and equip you with the skills relevant to the needs of today’s hospitality and tourism industry.

Our courses require you to study a series of core modules, but you can also study other, non hospitality/tourism modules that you might be interested in. However, one thing that you will have to do when studying hospitality and tourism is to engage with food! Not only is food a core part of the industry, (and in Scotland food tourism is very much on the increase with government and public sector organisations increasing aware of the amazing potential we have here in Scotland in food terms) but it features highly in our courses. A central part of this are the practical production and service sessions that you will take part in, in a commercial setting. You will have the opportunity to manage the operation and be responsible for every aspect of the service. Even more responsibility is given to you when you help to manage the increasingly popular annual Food Festival (Feast), which draws not only on your culinary knowledge, but also your interpersonal and managerial skills.

The value of the hospitality and tourism industry to the Scottish economy is considerable: recent figures suggest that it is estimated to be worth over £4.2 billion and to employ over 218,000 staff. The targets for the future as set out by our Government are ambitious and there is a growing demand for highly qualified professionals, at all levels, to help develop this industry.

Research

Research features highly amongst our staff ensuring content is up-to-date. You will be taught by active researchers in their own right, some of whom have recently completed their doctoral studies and others who are publishing in mainstream academic journals. Some of the areas in which they are currently researching includes the luxury hotel market; eco- and sustainability issues in relation to hotels; tourism in developing countries and also peace tourism; food tourism; Slow tourism; IT and its application to tourism and hospitality; to name but a few. You will also have contact with our growing number of PhD students as you progress through your chosen route of study, offering you the opportunity to engage with those engaged in the furthering of knowledge.

Career prospects

To react to the challenges that the 21st Century will bring, and move forward, this dynamic industry urgently needs effective managers. Our graduates are perfectly positioned to play their part in this, possessing a mix of leadership, managerial, interpersonal and technical skills, all of which are crucial to career development. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in a variety of public sector organisations such as VisitScotland and EventScotland, but many are also are carving a career pathway with Sheraton, Gleneagles, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, Hilton, RF Hotels, as well as many smaller privately owned companies in both tourism and hospitality. With a focus on entrepreneurial activity embedded into the degree courses, a number of graduates have successfully started their own businesses, in the UK and abroad – all of which is testament to the quality of the teaching provision at QMU.

CASE STUDY

Lisa Hyslop, BA (Hons) Hospitality and Tourism Management

Before leaving school, I had spent some time working in a hotel environment. I soon realised that I wanted to pursue a career in hotel management and the course at QMU seemed to fit my needs. Being a student was challenging, but thoroughly enjoyable. Along with all the interesting modules I studied, I also completed a placement in a hotel bar in Majorca - a great opportunity to apply my knowledge and develop my skills and independence. I also got the opportunity to work at the MTV awards when they took place in Edinburgh, assisting the hospitality team in many areas. It is one of my most memorable experiences from university and I got to see lots of exciting people. Many aspects of the course were difficult, but the friendly and approachable lecturers were on hand to help. They were particularly supportive in Year Four when I was doing my dissertation. It was about the effects of the smoking ban in Scotland – and is one of the reasons that I’m so glad I chose QMU.

After I graduated, I worked for Malmaison hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the ‘front office’. I learned a lot: training was readily available and I was part of the hotel ‘voice team’, which involved travelling and meeting with the Chief Executive and directors to discuss new ideas. I now work as Reservations Manager for Firmdale Hotels in London. I have been on training courses which have benefited me greatly and I’m currently undergoing a management development programme, allowing me to progress to senior management. The knowledge and skills I learned at QMU are used in my day to day role and are also allowing me to achieve high results in my management development programme and in the weekly reports I prepare for our directors. I have and will continue to recommend QMU to friends and family: it is a great place to learn.

Our courses

»BA/BA (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism Management

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